Pull Back and Focus
Pull Back and Focus
Original Post: August 1st, 2018
Monthly Newsletter Article:
When the religious leaders of Jesus’ day asked Him the question,
“Teacher, which command in God’s law is the most important?”
Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence. This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: Love others as well as you love yourself. These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.” (Matt. 22:34-40 MSG)
Boom! Right there Jesus says it’s all about loving God fully, completely with all that you are, surrendering to His will and heartbeat for your life. When we love God first, our lives become so completely intertwined with His life and heart that we are united with Him. Jesus’ desire for you is that you would let your love be seen with the passion of your heart, the passions of your life, with the gifts and talents that have been given to you. In this, your work becomes worship to Him. The way you love your family becomes worship to Him. The way you love your neighbor is worship to Him.
In a day when there are so many great things to give your time and attention and even passion towards, we can feel pulled in a thousand directions and even feel overwhelmed at times. Let me encourage you.....pull back and focus your attention on loving Jesus. Spend time in His presence. Spend time in worship and meditation on Him. As you do this, His love will grow more and more in your life. The more you behold Him, the more you become like Him. This will affect EVERY area of your life. The more you love Him, the more His love grows and matures in you, His voice becomes clearer inside of you, you see what He sees, and you can love others as He loves them. Real love looks like something. It’s not just words or feelings. It is demonstrated. As His love floods you....you’ll be compelled to action. This is my prayer for all of us especially this summer. Let this be a summer of encountering God, being transformed by His love and goodness towards us, and being moved to action, advancing His kingdom because of His amazing love in and through us.
~Emily
Monthly Newsletter Article:
When the religious leaders of Jesus’ day asked Him the question,
“Teacher, which command in God’s law is the most important?”
Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence. This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: Love others as well as you love yourself. These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.” (Matt. 22:34-40 MSG)
Boom! Right there Jesus says it’s all about loving God fully, completely with all that you are, surrendering to His will and heartbeat for your life. When we love God first, our lives become so completely intertwined with His life and heart that we are united with Him. Jesus’ desire for you is that you would let your love be seen with the passion of your heart, the passions of your life, with the gifts and talents that have been given to you. In this, your work becomes worship to Him. The way you love your family becomes worship to Him. The way you love your neighbor is worship to Him.
In a day when there are so many great things to give your time and attention and even passion towards, we can feel pulled in a thousand directions and even feel overwhelmed at times. Let me encourage you.....pull back and focus your attention on loving Jesus. Spend time in His presence. Spend time in worship and meditation on Him. As you do this, His love will grow more and more in your life. The more you behold Him, the more you become like Him. This will affect EVERY area of your life. The more you love Him, the more His love grows and matures in you, His voice becomes clearer inside of you, you see what He sees, and you can love others as He loves them. Real love looks like something. It’s not just words or feelings. It is demonstrated. As His love floods you....you’ll be compelled to action. This is my prayer for all of us especially this summer. Let this be a summer of encountering God, being transformed by His love and goodness towards us, and being moved to action, advancing His kingdom because of His amazing love in and through us.
~Emily
Posted in Emily Tedrow, monthly newsletter
Posted in newsletter, jpc, jesuspursuit, Albany OR, Oregon, Williamette Valley
Posted in newsletter, jpc, jesuspursuit, Albany OR, Oregon, Williamette Valley
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